expressive power; inventiveness; creative power
essence; quintessence; spirit; soul; heart; pith (and marrow)
appearance; expression; manifestation
wind and waves; waves stirred by the wind
widely; extensively; far and wide; everywhere; all around; generally
to drive (e.g. a horse, carriage); to control; to manage; to govern; to rule
with hands in pockets; idleness
taking a straight look at something; looking someone in the eyes
basics; rudiments; elements; ABCs of ...
unintelligible language; incoherent language; talking nonsense; babble; gibberish; jargon
to carry to extremes; to go to the end of something; to reach the peak of something (e.g. luxury, hardships, etc); to be extremely (e.g. busy); to exhaust completely; to have nothing left (e.g. to say)
it is to be regretted that ...; it is a pity that ...; it is unfortunate that ...
decisive battle; deciding match; play-off
patient; unhurried; leisurely
prey (i.e. of a predator); kill; victim (of a crime, a hoax, etc.)
that much; as much; to that extent; only that; that alone; no more than that
foolish question; stupid question; one's question
moisture; damp; richness; warmth; financial leeway; gains
thereupon; shortly thereafter
now (esp. in contrast to the past); now at last; at present; right now
present (brought by a visitor); gift
(being) empty-handed; lapse of manners of paying a visit without taking a gift
eldest son (may be the only son); first-born son
all out; like hell; like crazy; desperately; (lit.) expecting to die
tragic but brave; heroic; grim
leap; jump; stepping out into the wider world; becoming active on a wider stage; rapid progress; dramatic development
order; sequence; procedure
rapidly; quickly; briskly; booming (e.g. of a drum)
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
red and white; colours for festive or auspicious occasions (colors); two teams; two groups; Kōhaku Uta Gassen; annual contest between male and female popular singers on New Year's Eve (sponsored and broadcast by NHK)
quietly; calmly; comfortably; peacefully
encouragement; inspiration; rousing; stirring up; raising (e.g. morale)
one's physical safety; personal security
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
to collapse; to give up; to lose one's nerve; to have one's knees give way
putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
(shout of) encouragement; cheering; rooting; support
to bloom; to blossom; to become lively (esp. of conversation); to become animated; to experience a golden age
going into battle; departure for the front; appearing (in a match); starting an election campaign
to begin to rain; to begin to snow
to freeze (of one's body); to be frozen; to become numb (with cold); to be chilled